West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-03-04
RICH MEN OF MONTANA.
HOW THEY ACQUIRED WEALTH.
Early Experiences and Political AspiTs-
tions Of Millionaire clark--Fortunes
o: Gov. Hauser, Sam Broadwa;er
and Tommy Cruise.

Recent advices from Montana have
not been very encouraging to those
contemplating emigration TO the big
territory. 1t has been alleged BY
men who were in position to know
that the present low prices quoted
for silver and copper have "knocked
the bottom" out OF Butte City and
other mining camps, and persons in
terestedin stoek-raising lravs learned
that some DC MonIana's cattle kings
are seeking pastures new for their
herds. "Doa't believe all YOU hear
abous Montana or any other remote
territory until you have thoroughly
investigated the reports and discov-
cred the motives which prompt their
circulation" said 4 hotel visitor
yesterday. awhile it is true that
Montana is not as prosperous as it
was several years ago, it is still TIC
most inviting Of the Rocky mountain
territories. 1t retains sll the ele-
ments upon which it's advancement
was built, and the causes for the
present depression in business OF all
sorts can be removed Butte City is.
no longer the booming camp it was
a couple OF years age, but it retains
the principal factors ef its phenome
nal progress-mineral and men.
Two or three OF Bntte's big mines
have been closed, bur not perma
nently.
"The Anaconda company, employ
ING at LEASE $500 men, suspended
operations because it found that it
could not pay high wages for the
extraction of silver and copper ores
while the market price for those net
ais remains at rs present low staxa
ard. The workmen would not accept
a reduction in wages, and the compa
ny followed the only course leftopea
to it. It's example wac initiated by
several smaller concerns, and Bp$e
was placed under the c.olii Th .ti,
is now resting upon it. But thei fer
who built Butte are not Of the tfm
poramsns to remain inactive EhitE
there is work to be doae. 1t is safe
to presume that ways and means foF
resumption Of work throughout
the camp are being discussed, Snd
it is safer To predict that before she
end of the year the problem Of
Butte's proStration will be solved
and the cause removed. There are
millions and millionaires yrt to DC
made in Montana
Montana has been rather prolific
of mushroom millionaires, has 1t
notY"
Not exactly prolific, but it has
manufactured several of them. The
wealthy men OF Montana are, with
out exception, self made, but they
are not as numerous as is generally
supposed. Montana's millionaires
can be counted upon the fingers Of
one hand, and none of them jumped
from poverty to aflluence in day or
in year. Their ascension to great
wealth has been slow.
"The wealthiest man in Montana
is w. A. CLARK of Butte. 1t is estl-
mated that he clean up from four TO
five millions, and he is constantly
increasing the pile. He has taken
every dollar of it out Of the ground,
Twenty four years ago he accompa-
MED his parents from Virginia to
the Wilderness. He was then mere
lad, but the accumulatiye trait vas
strongly marked in his character.
He began his battle with the world
as clerk in q store at Deer Lodge,
then the only town in the territory.
This store sold everything in the
line of miners supplies. and in a
short time Young Clark became ac-
quaintel with every goldhunter in
the territory. The miners intrustea
their surplus dust to his keeping,
asking for no better security than
his word of honor that it would be
produced when they wanted it. At
the end of few years Clark was
conducting a store of his own, anil
his popularity soon drove his rivals
into obscurity. In partnership with
Ell Larabie, be started the first baaG
IN the territy. and il stands an'
dOurishes at Deer Lodge to-day.
His constant dealings with miners
and handling OF ores and mctsis
gave Mr.. Clark 4 practical I,npri
edge of mines and minerals that was.
mere valuable than a course Of
study in mineralogy woGld have
been. The funds intrusted % his
bank he invested wisely aud we'll,
and the success Of some OF his ven
lures surprised and Disguised many
of the veterans in mining who had
backed their judgment and lost in
speculations that held forth greater
pramises than young Clark obtain
ed. When quartz mining was com
menced st Butte he was one of the
first men on the ground, and as soon
as he had satisfied himself thstl